The Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose Public School is re-opening a search for a licensed Library/Media Specialist (.75 FTE) teacher in their Hanover Elementary School. This position will begin August 26, 2013. Interested applicants must complete an application available online at the district website.
The new application deadline was extended to May 10, 2013.
**Content in this post was provided by GRRL**
On April 23rd approximately 25,000 volunteers signed up to give away half a million free books in more than 6,000 towns and cities across the country. The free book giveaway is part of World Book Night U.S. (WBN), an ambitious campaign to give thousands of free, specially printed paperbacks to light or nonreaders across America on one day.
Great River Regional Library (GRRL) provides library services at 32 public libraries in Benton, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright Counties. These facilities allow access to nearly 1 million books, CDs and DVDs, 250 public computers, along with a variety of programming and information services.
GRRL recruited more than 50 volunteers who shared books at various locations across Central Minnesota such as parks, coffee shops and fitness centers. Providing people with materials and services to support lifelong learning and personal enrichment is a goal within the library’s strategic plan.
Volunteer Jeanie Pilarski said, “This was a fun and easy event. The Delano Tiger Activity Center is an active location with parents, exercisers, participants of clubs, and many activities happening in this location. People were surprised to be asked to receive a book! They were very receptive and wanted to know about World Book Night. I enjoyed the opportunity to hand out books. I have read this book and that made for an easy introduction also.”
Have you considered using Skype in a classroom setting?
Skype can be viewed as a mini and potentially mobile I- TV session-accessible on several gadgets. If you have a device with a webcam and internet access, this resource can often be used at no additional cost. Once a free account is created, a program can be downloaded for a computer, television and/or an app for a mobile phone, tablet, iPod, etc.
Because of its flexibility and relatively easy set-up process, some schools are developing “Skype lessons.” This is a pre-scheduled lesson in which a teacher invites a content expert into their classroom via Skype. The students are able to hear and see the guest speaker, in real-time, via streaming video.
Recently, Edudemic posted an article on “21 Skype Lessons For Active Learning, Sorted by Topic.” Click here to read the entire article.
As an ambassador of learning within the educational system, how can Librarians/Media Specialists assist in developing and integrating tools to enhance learning outcomes?
Edutopia is a free online resource for PK-12 educators interested in strategies to incorporate the following concepts into their classrooms; comprehensive assessment, integrated studies, project-based learning, social and emotional learning, teacher development, technology integration. Tip: For a quick look at what this site has to offer, focus on the A to Z Topics on the front page. Click here to try it out!
**This update was written by Elaine Keefe, MLA/MEMO Library Legislative Lobbyist** (Received on Monday, April 29, 6:09 pm)
The Legislature must adjourn three weeks from today. Most of the omnibus budget bills were passed on the floor of the House and Senate last week. Conference committees are in the process of being appointed and will begin meeting later this week. Here is the status of the major bills affecting libraries:
Omnibus Higher Education Bill (SF 1236): The bill has passed both the House and the Senate.
The Senate higher education bill includes a $300,000 per year increase in funding for Minitex/MnLINK. The House maintains current funding.
Please contact the conferees listed below and ask them to support the Senate funding level for Minitex/MnLINK:
Omnibus E-12 Education Bill (HF 630): The bill has passed both the House and Senate. Here are the highlights for MLA and MEMO:
House conferees are Reps. Paul Marquart (DFL – Dilworth), Carolos Mariani (DFL – St. Paul), Kathy Brynaert (DFL – Mankato), Will Morgan (DFL – Burnsville) and Dean Urdahl (R – Grove City). Senate conferees are Senators Chuck Wiger (DFL – Maplewood), Patricia Torres Ray (DFL – Minneapolis), LeRoy Stumpf (DFL – Plummer), Alice Johnson (DFL – Spring Lake Park) and Kevin Dahle (DFL – Northfield).
Omnibus Tax Bill (HF 677): The bill has passed the House and is currently being debated in the Senate. Both bills raise a substantial amount of new revenue via increases in income taxes, sales taxes and and cigarette taxes. The House also raises taxes on alcohol. Both bills include property tax relief.
The House bill increases aid to cities by $80 million and aid to counties by $30 million. The Senate bill increases aid to cities by $80 million and aid to counties by $40 million. These increases will be helpful to public libraries.
Legacy: The House Legacy bill was scheduled to be taken up on the House floor 10 days ago and then was pulled. Rumor has it that controversy over the outdoor heritage appropriations have made it questionable whether the bill can pass. The Senate has not yet put its bill together.